[Hiring] Systemic Change Lead @Dartington Service Design Lab

Role Description

We're looking for a full-time (or part-time 0.8 FTE) Systemic Change Lead to join our fully remote and impact driven team.

• Location: Working remotely from home across the four nations of the UK, occasionally co-working spaces, with occasional travel
• Start date: As soon as possible (Winter 2026/27)
• Salary: £43,575 p.a. (FTE)
• Contract type: Permanent contract

Do you feel passionate about supporting a charity who are reshaping the systems that support children and young people across the UK? Do you want to lead a varied portfolio of participatory research, co-design and evaluation projects, and set the direction for how we apply systems thinking and complexity-informed approaches across that work?

The Systemic Change Lead plays a crucial role in our work at Dartington. They manage their own portfolio of projects from design through to delivery, working directly with clients, young people, community partners and system leaders.

This role would suit someone who has already applied systems and complexity-informed methods in research and design practice, is comfortable holding several projects at once, and works with a high degree of independence and autonomy.

As an organisation committed to anti-racism, equity and inclusion, we are actively working to diversify the perspectives, practice and experiences that we bring to our work.

If you are excited about this role and believe you could do it well, we’d love to hear from you.

This is a real opportunity to do meaningful work as part of a close-knit team dedicated to creating the conditions for all children and young people to thrive. If that resonates with you, please do apply.

Qualifications

• Experience in applying systems and complexity-informed methods in research and design practice
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• High degree of independence and autonomy in work

Requirements

• Passion for supporting children and young people
• Commitment to anti-racism, equity, and inclusion

Benefits

• 38 days (FTE) annual leave (including bank holidays)
• Pension Scheme
• Flexible working arrangements
• Access to co-working budget
• Paid parental / carers leave
• Great technology and home working allowances
• Training and professional development opportunities

Application Process

• Deadline for applications: 9am Monday 16th November 2026
• Online first stage interviews: w/c 30th November
• In-person final stage interviews: w/c 7th December
• All candidates are asked to complete the application form and submit a CV at the same time
• One of the sift questions asks you to engage with our Anti-Racism Action Framework
• We will reimburse reasonable travel costs for candidates attending an in-person interview